formation and destruction of dust and molecules, and their relation to the origin of organic matter in the universe

Note for prospective students: I'm seeking motivated and enthusiastic students to join my team of supernova sleuths actively investigating the catastrophic deaths of massive stars. Our comprehensive multi-wavelength, multi-phase approach of reverse engineering supernovae is unraveling the complicated final stages of stellar evolution, and providing exciting new ways to understand how stars explode; the exotic objects they create (neutron stars, black holes) that later become sources of grativational waves; and how they evolve into remnants that seed interstellar space with the raw materials needed for stars, planets -- and potentially life. Students will gain hands-on experience and acquire an interdisciplinary, widely applicable skill set exploring data obtained by premier space-borne and ground-based facilities (including the Hubble Space Telescope, Chandra X-ray Observatory, the Very Large Array, the Gemini 8.1m telescopes, and the 6.5m Magellan and MMT telescopes). Research directions that are more theoretical and/or computational (including visualization) are also possible. Please feel free to contact me: let's brainstorm and tailor a project that leverages your unique interests and strengths.